The North African nation has been mired in violence between warring factions for more than a decade. The eastern part of the country, where the flooding occurred, is ruled by a rebel coalition that is not recognised by the international community, making aid efforts and communication around the area even more difficult.
"Everything is cut off completely, there's no internet access, there's no electricity and the magnitude of the disaster that has happened in the city is just growing by the minute. About four square kilometres of the heart of the city have been eroded completely." - Dr Hani Shennib president of the National Council on U-S Libya Relations.
Storm Daniel brought more than 400 millimetres of rain in 24 hours in some parts of the country, including Libya's second largest city Benghazi, and causing four major oil ports to close for three nights.
Authorities in eastern Libya say at least 5,000 thousand people are believed dead and thousands more missing after a massive flood has torn through the city of Derna.
Officials say that two dams have burst, washing away large swathes of the city after a powerful storm which pummelled Greece last week before moving over the Mediterranean and making landfall in the North African nation.
The combination of extreme weather, vulnerable geography, and weak dams and roads made the deluge the worst North Africa has seen in almost a century. The collapsing dams have swept away whole neighbourhoods with residents into the sea.
Bayda city councillor Safieldin Buheiba has called for urgent assistance in the city around 100 kilometres to the east of Derna.
"We announce with regret that the situation is completely out of control. We call on all government officials to intervene to save what can be saved. Governments are responsible for people's lives, we request the security services to provide assistance."
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